West gov’t halts Pari application

WESTERN Provincial government has halted an application on a subdivision plan to the Western Provincial Planning & Development Board submitted by Pari Development Company to develop land parcels at Noro in Western Province.

The submission included Fixed Term Estates covering four land parcels officially known as PN 098-011-145, PN 098-009-65, PN 098-012-545 and PN 098-009-54 that were recently acquired by Pari Development Company and how they will be allocated and apportioned to each development sector as in Residential, Commercial and Industrial.

Part of PN 098-009-54 in Noro will accommodate the Submarine Cable Landing Station but completion of station and other formalities awaits WPPD board endorsements.

Pari Development Company Limited Managing Director, Mr Donald Bato in an earlier statement had uttered their profound dissatisfaction over issues why the Western Provincial Planning & Development Board (WPPD) has chosen to snub and ignore their application without any rational explanation.

“We submitted an application for approval on a subdivision plan to the WPPD Board in November 2018 but have not heard a word from them since,” Mr Bato adds.

“Noro Township has outgrown its present state and its prime time we close one door and open the other with indigenous corporations and business people to break barriers, daring and defiant for the greater good of the people of the Western Province.

“The plan is literally part of this company’s long term policies on enhancing development on expansion and designing a major facelift to the outskirts of Noro Township. The submission included Fixed Term Estates covering four land parcels officially known as PN 098-011-145, PN 098-009-65, PN 098-012-545 and PN 098-009-54 that were recently acquired by this company and how they will be allocated and apportioned to each development sector as in Residential, Commercial and Industrial.

“But in the midst of all this, some individuals in the Western Provincial Government Executive or the Western Province Planning and Development Board undermine the idea and would do anything in their power to prevent this from happening.

“I suppose we should ask them why? Is it because the Western Provincial Government should have the upper hand in managing these lands and allocate them to whom they please or has the green eyed monster been unleashed? They even claim that we acquired these lands through fraud and collusion. These wild accusations don’t speak highly of reputable and high caliber bureaucrats representing the interest of the people of Western Province.

“Where was the WPG in the last six years when we were sweating off our butts to contribute to the national economy a staggering sum of SBD3, 816,610.57 worth of export duties and withholding tax over these lands while in the face of overwhelming odds, Projects of National and Provincial Interest have repeatedly failed and the people of Western Province are tired of their overrated and empty promises. Why did the WPG lack the foresight to secure these lands from the National Government in the post-independence period and have just recently rushed to seek means of quickly establishing accountability over these lands?

“Frankly, we really cannot emphasize strongly enough of what went wrong or what we have done wrong but we strongly appeal to the WPG and the WPPDB to reconsider and project their motives wisely as your support will make all a difference in working together for the greater good of our beautiful province,” the statement adds.

But in respond to this paper yesterday Western Provincial Government Premier Mr David Gina said they will not accept any approval from Pari Development Company Limited.

“Pari Development Company is not following the right procedures to deal with this land. Social Media is not the right place to discuss land issues.

“We are yet to resolve this subject, but at the moment we are planning to discuss this with Lands Commissioner and Pari Development Company Limited.

“Provincial government has power to allow any investors who wish to operate in the province.

He adds dealing with land issues without following proper procedures is not the rightful way to deal with because any investors wish to operate at Noro must be protected by the provincial government.

He said the government is fully aware over the subdivision plan to the Western Provincial Planning & Development Board submitted by Pari Development Company Limited in November 2018.

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